Lee Qualm a Platte, SD resident and 4th generation farmer has announced his bid for District 21 Senate. Lee was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2013. Lee was the Chairman of Ag and Natural Resources Committee, he served on the Transportation Committee, Local Government Committee and on the State and Tribal Relations Committee. Since the fall of 2016 Qualm serves as House Majority Leader, is Chairman of State Affairs Committee and serves on the Executive Board, on the REDI Board, and Ag Land Task Force. Qualm notes, “I love working with people to help this District and to make sure SD remains a great place to live, work and raise our families.”

Since his first election, Qualm was instrumental in the design and passing of bills to rebuild the railroad from Chamberlain to Presho. He was the prime sponsor and influential in the passing of legislation for the Animal Disease and Research Diagnostic Lab at SDSU in ’17. This legislation was vital for the wellbeing of the livestock, pork, dairy, equine, pet and poultry industries of SD.

Qualm was chairman of the Non-meandering Waters Task Force in ’17 which developed a solution for landowners and sportsmen for a contentious issue that had not been resolved for over 20 years in SD. He also was prime sponsor of the Midwife bill which was 25 years in the making to allow Certified Professional Midwives to practice in SD.

Lee Qualm also was prime sponsor of two bills for Precision AG. He worked with all of the Agricultural groups in SD uniting them to support the legislation for funding the construction of a new building to house the nation’s first Precision Agricultural four-year Bachelor degree program at SDSU.

Qualm was the chairman of the Industrial Hemp summer study in ’19 and the prime sponsor of the Industrial Hemp bill which passed and has been signed into law by Governor Noem this year. This bill adds a new commodity for the agriculture community and opens the door for economic development across the state for the processing and sales of industrial hemp derived products plus machines to be developed and sold for the processing of this commodity.

Lee believes strongly in the 2nd Amendment. He is an avid hunter and a lifelong member of the NRA and has been given an A+ rating by the NRA. Qualm was Prime sponsor of the legislation for Constitutional Carry and Capitol Carry for those with an Enhanced Carry permit, which Lee also sponsored the legislation for.

Qualm leads with his core values. He knows the importance of preserving the number one industry of this state which is agriculture. He has worked to protect and help small businesses to develop without the threat of an overbearing government. Free enterprise and limited government are two ideals he has stuck to during his time in the legislature. Qualm believes in sanctity of life and has sponsored many bills these past eight years to chip away at the abortion industry in SD. Lee has been awarded 100% rating with the SD Right to Life.

As a family man with four married children, and twelve grandchildren, he knows we must establish a greater South Dakota for the next generation. Lee Qualm wants to continue leading South Dakota the same way he has since 2013. Let his experience in state government continue to work for you.